Publications by authors named "S Amalfitano"
The concept of Simplexity has emerged several times in many discourses within different scientific domains: it somehow refers to the intertwined nature of Simplicity and Complexity. To the eye of the scientist beholder, any of these contributions renders different facets. None of those is negligible nor seems to be superior.
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- Urban areas are under pressure for better water management, and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can help, but integrating them with existing systems is often challenging.
- This study introduces a Sequential Sedimentation Biofiltration System (SSBS) for stormwater treatment that integrates a sedimentation tank, Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRBs), and a biofiltration zone to enhance water quality in tight urban spaces.
- Although sediment removal was limited, PRBs effectively reduced ammonium and phosphate levels, while the biofiltration zone further improved nutrient retention, highlighting the promise of combining NbS with traditional urban infrastructure for better stormwater management.
Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) is a robust technology to increase groundwater recharge and to improve reclaimed water quality. SAT reduces dissolved organic carbon, contaminants of emerging concern, nutrients, and colloidal matter, including pathogen indicators, but little is known about its ability to reduce loads of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from reclaimed waters. Here we test six pilot SAT systems to eliminate various biological hazards from the secondary effluents of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), equipped with reactive barriers (RBs) including different sorptive materials.
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- The plastisphere is a community of tiny living things that grow on plastic waste in water, and it’s important to study because it affects the environment and our health.
- Scientists found many different types of microorganisms living on plastics, but some can be harmful to humans and other creatures.
- Better technologies are helping researchers learn more about how these microorganisms work and how we can manage plastic pollution in freshwater to keep our waters clean and safe.
Introduction: Once dispersed in water, plastic materials become promptly colonized by biofilm-forming microorganisms, commonly known as plastisphere.
Methods: By combining DNA sequencing and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), we investigated the plastisphere colonization patterns following exposure to natural lake waters (up to 77 days) of either petrochemical or biodegradable plastic materials (low density polyethylene - LDPE, polyethylene terephthalate - PET, polylactic acid - PLA, and the starch-based MaterBi® - Mb) in comparison to planktonic community composition. Chemical composition, water wettability, and morphology of plastic surfaces were evaluated, through Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and static contact angle analysis, to assess the possible effects of microbial colonization and biodegradation activity.